1 comments about Classic Teddy Bear Designs-Heirlooms to Make & Dress.

1. This would have to be the best value for money, beginners book on bear making that has been published in the last 10 or more years. The author has written this for the home sewer and doesn't assume that there is a teddy bear supplies shop just up the road where you can buy those expensive specialty items like joint sets, mohair fur, etc. Everything you need can be found at home in the sewing cupboard, at the local sewing shop or general store; eg: like buttons for joints, teddy jumpers/sweaters out of socks.

   There are numerous bear patterns of various sizes; eg: dad, mum & baby; both jointed and unjointed, along with clothes patterns for just about all of them! Estelle also explains how to customise the clothes patterns for different bears and garments; eg making a shirt into a coat. I still use this book if I want to dress bears from other patterns. For example I compare the bear that I'm making with Estelles bear pattern pieces; ie leg to leg for trousers, body to body for dresses or jump suits, etc; and when I find one that is similar I use the clothes pattern that fits Estelle's bear as a base clothes pattern for the bear I am making.

   The bear patterns themselves are excellent for beginners as all the bears a quite chubby (makes for great cuddling!), so are easier to sew, to turn inside out and to stuff - no narrow nooks and crannies to make for difficult stuffing. Some of the head patterns don't have a full head insert ie down to the nose, again making for easy sewing and more chance of a "nice muzzle/nose" for a beginner.

   Virtually all the bears in the book are made from something other than mohair, either synthetic fur, felt, coat fabric, etc, so you get a pretty good idea of what your bear will ACTUALLY look like. Mohair is gorgeous, but is often deceptive as it is usually a woven fabric, which doesn't stretch, so if you use synthetic fur, felt or coat fabric, for example, you end up with a very different bear to the mohair one you are hoping to reproduce.

   (I have a 1980ish edition of this book around which this review is written. PLEASE NOTE: there may be changes to the later edition SO the comments in the following paragraph may not be correct for this more recent edition.) Full colour books are the norm these days, so it is disappointing there aren't MORE of the gorgeous colour photos - although there are still plenty of black and white ones. There is quite alot of text, (including the usual "teddy bear" history), which comes under logical headings so it is generally easy to find info on subject. All the patterns are on pages of the book - great - no misplaced pattern inserts.

   This is a value for money book - lots of bear patterns with clothes patterns and how to do's. You won't make a Stieff reproduction, but you will get lots of practise with the numerous options this book offers.

2 comments about Steiff Identification & Price Guide.

1. This book probably has a limited audience, since it seems to be missing many items for someone else, I'm adding that its back section listing only begins with the 1980's, so if you're looking for earlier Steiff information, this probably won't have it, especially some of the more common items.



2. There's lots of non-rare items missing from this book (all the one's I'm looking at).

No comments about Restoring Teddy Bears and Stuffed Animals.

No comments about Miller's Teddy Bears: A Complete Collector's Guide (Miller's).

5 comments about The Beanie Encyclopedia: A Complete Unofficial Guide to Collecting Beanie Babies.

1. I was impressed with the accuracy and the way that it gave such great information, this is a must for all Beanie enthusiasts like myself, and I must agree Ryan is soooo cute.....xoxox



2. I liked the book, but most of all I liked Ryan, the co-author of The Beanie Encyclopedia. I got a chance to meet him at a book signing while I was on vacation in Florida. He looks so cute in person. I LOVE YOU RYAN



3. This book was great. No other Book has taught me so much. Thanks Dr. Carey and Ryan



4. Absolutely wonderful. The authors really know their stuff. There isn't a more complete Beanie Anthology available anywhere! A perfect companion to my book.



5. It even has Attic Theasures

2 comments about Teddy Bears With a Past.

1. What a great book for those wanting the special instructions needed for working with reclaimed fur coats. This book deals mainly with real fur and how it is treated differently than mohair. However mohair directions are also included. If you buy this book and Nancy's other book "101 Bears to Make" you will have all the information you need on bear making.----------------------Pam



2. I have always wanted to make a bear out of recycled fur. Well this is the book that will teach you how. It is only for the person who is willing to be a patient sewer, but then aren't all teddy bear makers? A very exciting book, with beautiful photos and Nancy Tillburg is sharing everything with the teddy bear world. I highly recommend this book.

No comments about Mecki, Zotty and Their Friends: Steiff-Animals and Bears 1950-1970.

2 comments about Teddy Bears and Steiff Animals: First Series.

1. This is a nicely organized book chock-full of great pictures. It begins with a brief history of the teddy bear, conservation tips, and guidelines on what to look for when investing in a bear. It moves on to discuss Steiff dolls and animals with guidelines for evaluating Steiff dolls/animals for purchase or sale. The book covers miniature bears, Teddy Bears before 1940, Teddy Bears from 1940-1980, contemporary Teddy Bears (as of 1984), artist bears, Teddy Bear related items, Steiff Dolls, Steiff Animals before 1940, and Steiff Animals from 1940-1984.

   Hundreds of items are photographed and described in detail with notations on what adds value and/or is rare. Even though the first edition came out eighteen years ago, it still remains a classic reference/guide and it is updated every few years.




2. Firstly are you a Steiff or TeddyBear in general collector. If the answer is Steiff this book will have no use to you. The first seven pages are informative but after that it is packed full of colour pictures obtained from peoples personal collectons. It is more like a photo album of bears, although saying this, the pictures are of excellent quality. If you want to check the value of a bear pictured you have to look up the page number at the back of the book and find the relevant item. I have 15 Steiff Bears and not one of them were listed, I have looked through this book 3-4 times and all in all I am dissapointed in it. I will place it in the book cabinet and probably never look at it again.

5 comments about The Complete Idiot's Guide to Beanie Babies (The Complete Idiot's Guide).

1. I just got started collecting, and this book has given me all the background information on what to expect. It's impossible for any book to keep up to date with the actual Beanies, but you won't find a better guide to the hobby itself.



2. Some many books on BBs are simply price lists or have a very limited period of usefulness. This one is different and will be my reference of choice. There is no way to predict what Ty will do, but this is the book that can track what has happened to date. The section on spotting counterfeits is invaluable and has saved me from making a couple of costly mistakes. I also got some chuckles from the creatively posed beanies in the nice color photos. Right after reading my own copy, I immediately sent a copy to my beanie-crazed young nieces.



3. This book is a good attempt at being different from all of the other Beanie Baby books and guides. However, it is not that easy to read because the authors grouped the Beanies according to genre, not alphabetically. Black and white pictures were not all that useful. Some background information (but not a lot) sets this book apart from the rest of the pack. However, it makes little attempt at saying what makes a particular beanie baby popular or unpopular or with whom. A good guide to starting out in the hobby but not useful if you are already immersed.



4. This is a great book about BEANIE BABIES! This is especialy good for beginner collectors. It teaches you special facts about the beanies and how to collect them. I think if you like beanie babies you should deffintly get this book!!!!!!!!



5. I really liked this book because it had all kinds of odd information. There is more than 5 blurbs of different facts per page. It has how to avoid counterfits,facts about each beanie, and more. It even has a checklist with pictures. This is definatly the best Beanie Baby book I own. It is perfect for begginers and experienced Beanie collectors.

5 comments about Boyds Tracker Plush: Value Guide, Second Edition, Vol. 1 of 2.

1. My Boyd's Bear's book arrived very quickly and it was in excellent condition. Thank You!



2. I have been looking for a collector's guide for the last several years and stumbled across this. As soon as the book arrived I could not wait to check the secondary prices for all my "friends".
   
   This book will be a wonderful help in getting an extra rider on my homeowners policy to cover my friends should anything happen to them.
   
   The pictures and descriptions in the book are outstanding and the supplemental information is invaluable. I have several friends that have multiple looks and it helped me to distinguish between the bears that have the same name but slightly different looks.
   
   If you are looking for the ultimate collector's guide for Boyds Plush - you must get this book!!



3. This is a must for Boyds Collectors. Great pictures and great information. Love the Paw Notes. A vast improvement from the First edition.



4. I have collected Boyds Bears for years and there has been a serious gap in the Price Guide and information Guides for Boyds since Checkerbee went bust.
   This Bangzoom Tracker is FANTASTIC!!!!!!!!
   Color pictures, info, tons and tons of stuff I have and want and needed to put in some order!
   This is the way to do it with Sense and Brains!!!
   If you collect Boyds-you MUST buy this Tracker.
   Book or CD-rom; either way you need this to get your stuff organized, catagorized and listed so you know what you have and what you are looking for!
   Great Job Bethy And Bangzoom!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!



5. This book is an absolute must have for the true Boyds collector. It is the most accurate guide produced in years... a true Boyds encyclopedia. You won't regret the investment of this guide to find all the history behind your favorite Boyds pieces.